Former Huntley Fire Protection District Chief Ken Caudle retires

Former Huntley Fire Chief Ken Caudle poses for a portrait Jan. 16, 2016, in Huntley. Caudle, who was put on administrative leave amid an open investigation, has retired from the Huntley Fire Protection District.

HUNTLEY – A former Huntley Fire Protection District chief who had more than two years left on his six-figure contract gave up his rank before retiring amid an investigation.

Ken Caudle, who was put on administrative leave in the summer, has retired from the district.

The former fire chief continued to get his $119,240 salary while on leave until he retired Jan. 5, Fire Chief Scott Ravagnie said.

“The case is closed,” Ravagnie said, declining to comment further on details of the investigation.

Caudle resigned as fire chief Aug. 15 and returned to the rank of battalion chief before being placed on paid administrative leave “pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation,” according to district documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Officials have not said what they were investigating.

When asked Thursday about why he retired, Caudle said, “It was time to retire, and there was no reason for it.”

Former Fire Chief Jim Saletta, who now is a district trustee, said the fire district’s board is meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the annex building, 11118 Main St., to vote on Caudle’s retirement.

“We’re not going to comment on [the results of the investigation],” Saletta said. “... At this point, I would assume that we would accept his retirement.”

Caudle, who was 49 years old at the time he was placed on leave, said he does not plan on taking any other jobs right now, and he is “just enjoying retirement.”

Before he stepped down, a contract for Caudle in his role as fire chief took effect in May and was set to run through April 2020, district documents show.

The Northwest Herald submitted a Freedom of Information Act request Thursday seeking all documents regarding the investigation into Caudle.

Attempts to reach district board President Milford Brown on Thursday were not successful.